Bottom paint ??

[adamskeith]

I recently purchased a Hunter 23 that I plan to sail in fresh water . There are so many bottom / antifouling paints to choose from how do I know which one is best for my use. The boat is trailer able but I do plan to keep it in the water for entire seasons.

 

[Steve Dion]

Pettit Trinidad SR is one of the better all around paints.

Check with sailors in your area for other ideas.

 

[Dave602]

Agree with Steve, ask around marina's there and see what others have had success with

 

[Freebird]

I keep my Hunter 23 on a lake in NH. It has never been bottom painted. What I do is put her on the trailer in mid Aug pull her up on the ramp and pressure spray the bottom and then back her back in the water. I have access to a water hose because I'm in a sailing club that has a hose and running water. This works for me and I save a bunch of money. If I didn't have access to running water I would scrub the hull with a soft brush.

Freebird

 

[teebutch]

Any idea how long a boat can be kept in the water with out bottom paint. I would be worried about blisters.

 

[Dalliance]

Need a barrier coat

Any idea how long a boat can be kept in the water with out bottom paint. I would be worried about blisters.

I can say that a typical 6 month, May to Oct, sailing season on Lake Michigan is definitely long enough to form blisters. A barrier coat is critical if the boat stays in the water that long. InterProtect 2000 barrier coat with VC-17 seem to be the standards around here (Lake Michigan/Chicago). Multi-season ablatives too.

That said, Petenwell Lake might be different since it's a smaller inland (central Wisconsin) lake and will likely be considerably warmer, so asking the locals is the best advice on anti-fouling bottom paints. Barrier coat definitely, regardless of which anti-fouling bottom paint is selected.

 

[fstbttms]

Any idea how long a boat can be kept in the water with out bottom paint. I would be worried about blisters.

Bottom paint does not prevent blisters. If a boat is going to get blisters, it will get them whether or not it has bottom paint.

 

[teebutch]

If I were sailing in FL for two weeks on a trailer sailor I should not see any growth in that time?

 

[fstbttms]

Two weeks without bottom paint? I'd say the odds are pretty good you will have some growth.

 

[Bill1565]

If I were sailing in FL for two weeks on a trailer sailor I should not see any growth in that time?

5 days will be the upper limit. Barnacles will be small, but still challenging to remove. Pull your boat up on a beach every 3 days or so and rub the bottom with one of those 3 m scrubber pads. Dingy too if you are towing.

 

[teebutch]

Thanks I went four days and I could see a scum line it looked like when ok took it out of the water.

 

[isaksp00]

I keep my 23 on a fresh water lake from about mid May to about early to mid Oct. Have not used antifouling paint. There is a scum and some thin, short grassy like growth at haulout, but the yard uses a pretty hefty pressure washer and it comes pretty clean. I don't race, so I don't care about any minor performance hit.